Ahead of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, the Independent National Electoral Commission has warned political parties and candidates against misuse of incumbency power to block opposition parties and candidates from utilising public facilities for campaign activities.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun in a statement noted that restricting access to public buildings such as sports stadiums, limiting the use of state-owned media, among others should be buried.
According to Olumekun, Section 95(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits the use of state resources to benefit or disadvantage any political party or candidate, emphasizing the importance of adhering to these regulations, adding that INEC has made guidelines for political rallies, processions, and campaigns on its website and social media platforms to ensure clarity and compliance.
The commission however appealed to the political players to ensure a conducive environment for democracy and the will of the people to thrive.
